No mention of a Rajapaksa era bond fraud in the report: PHU

The Pivithuru Hela Urumaya (PHU) today said the bond report had not made any reference to a Rs.4,000 billion worth of bond transaction frauds which had allegedly taken place during the Rajapaksa era as claimed by the President and the Prime Minister.

Underworld characters in this Govt: Mano Ganesan

National Co-existence, Dialogue and Official Languages Minister Mano Ganesan said today there were those involved in underworld criminal activities and drug trafficking in this government.

Singapore PM arrives in SL

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrived in Sri Lanka a short while ago on a three-day official visit at the invitation of President Maithripala Sirisena.

American Center closed indefinitely

The American Center in Colombo which is being operated by the US government will remain closed until further notice, the US Embassy said today.

Singaporean PM’s visit: Several roads in Colombo closed

Vehicle movement will be restricted in several roads between Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) and Colombo due to the three-day official visit of the Singaporean Prime Minister.

CEYPETCO bans sale of ‘Lanka Kerosene’

The Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CEYPETCO) today banned the distribution of the “ Lanka Kerosene Oil” (red color) to vehicles, factories, barrels and other wholesale distributions.

Kataragama chaos: 58 released on bail

Fifty eight persons including 13 women who were arrested by the police yesterday for protesting in violent manner and unruly manner in Kataragama, had been released on bail by the Tissamaharama Magistrate.

Two more footprints appear on Sri Paada rock

The Maskeliya Police had requested the Commissioner General of Archaeology to conduct an archeological survey into a second set of footprints found on a rock located in a tea estate that lies in close proximity to the Sri Paada mountain range.This discovery comes in the wake of another set of footprints a a location nearby.

Economy stablished, Govt. to go on: PM

The Government had given the green light for the Joint Venture formed by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) and China Merchants Group to start up several projects in Hambantota, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said yesterday.

All Opposition parties, sans JO, now in 'Yahapalana' Govt., says MR

Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday claimed that while there was a yahapalana government in power there was a yahapalana opposition as well.

'Sunset' for SAITM, 'Sunrise' for SLIIT

Deputy Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva said yesterday that the government would close down the South Asian Institute of Technology and Medicine (SAITM) and transfer all its students, the staff, assets and liabilities to an institution to be named ‘Sunset’.

IUSF to launch massive campaign against Govt. inaction over SAITM

The Inter-University Federation would hold a massive campaign in Colombo against the Government’s failure to implement the promise to abolish Malabe Private Medical College (SAITM).

Bond scam: Dappula sidelined from instituting legal action

Senior Additional Solicitor General Dappula de Livera, who investigated the Central Bank bond scam along with others, had been sidelined from initiating legal action based on recommendations by the Presidential Commission regarding the fraud, sources said.

Entire Badulla under earth slip danger

The latest maps developed by the National Building Research Organisation on a scale of 1:10, 000 show more than 80 percent of the entire region of the Badulla District was under the risk of earth-slips, Badulla District Secretary Nimal Abesiri said today.

Ancient artefacts seized by Mihintale Police

Two ancient Buddha statues, three copper caskets, and three conch shells that had allegedly been dug up from a treasure in Mahakanadarawa Forest Reserve in Mihintale had been seized by Anuradhapura Police during a raid in the forest reserve, a Police Spokesman said.

Kataragama protestors tear gassed

The Police a short while ago fired tear gas to disperse protesting people following yesterday's shooting incident in Kataragama.

Forcing a Principal to kneel: President directs IGP to probe

President Maithripala Sirisena had directed IGP Pujith Jayasundera to hold an inquiry into incident in which Uva Province Chief Minister was accused of forcing a lady Principal to kneel in front of him, officials said.

CID probing Kataragama shooting: Arrested cop remanded till Jan. 30

A Police Constable who was arrested over the shooting incident in Kataragama was remanded till January 30, after being produced in the Kataragama Magistrate’s Court.

Uva CM steps down as Education Minister

Uva Province Chief Minister Chamara Sampath Dassanayake said he would step down from the Post of Provincial Education Minister with immediate effect.

Man killed in Kataragama police shooting

A 44-year-old motorcyclist was killed when police officers opened fire at him for allegedly refusing orders to stop the motorcycle at the Wedihiti Kanda checkpoint in Kataragama last night.

2 Bombs Found In Bodh Gaya

At least two crude bombs were found at Bodh Gaya pilgrimage centre in Bihar on Friday evening, just hours after Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama had retired for the day, NDTV reported.

Country’s economy no longer under UNP: President

The country’s economy would be managed by a the Economic Development Council headed by President Maithripala Sirisena from this year onwards, President Sirisena said addressing an election rally in Kegalle yesterday.

JO asks president's sec. -Are the two bond reports the same

The joint opposition (JO) yesterday asked Presidential Secretary Austin Fernando to clarify whether the bond report that was published was the same as the report which he received from the Bond Commission.

Singapore PM to sign FTA with SL during visit

Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong would visit Sri Lanka on January 22 on a three-day official visit, at the invitation of President Maithripala Sirisena, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said yesterday.

Two hacked to death in Poddala

A 75-year-old man and his 65-year-old sister were found hacked to death inside a house at Wakwella, Poddala in Galle today. Police said they have yet to determine the cause of the double homicide. No suspect had been arrested so far.  

US shutdown begins as Senate fails to pass budget

The US government has begun a federal shutdown after the Senate failed to agree on a new budget, the BBC reported today.

Marapana Committee worse than Pitipana Committee: JVP

JVP MP Sunil Hadunnetti said yesterday the appointing of a committee headed by Minister Tilak Marapana to recommend action in the event any UNPer was involved in the Central Bank bond scam was worse than appointing the Pitipana Committee to probe bond scam.  

US to grant Rs.183 mn to counter human trafficking in SL

The US government will grant more than Rs.183 million ($1.2 million) to counter human trafficking in Sri Lanka during the next three years, the US Embassy said on Friday.

EC says no power to unseat elected candidates

Elections Commission Chairman Mahinda Deshapriya said on Thursday he could do nothing about unseating a field officers or any other candidate if he had been found to have illegally contested the Local Government election and was elected.

Indonesian President to visit Sri Lanka

At the invitation of President Maithripala Sirisena, President of Indonesia, Joko Widodo will undertake a State visit to Sri Lanka from January 24-25 , Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.